Roth IRA Information: A Great Option for your Retirement Savings PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jonathan Weatherburg   
Monday, 15 February 2010 17:39
A Roth IRA may be the retirement savings option for you if you are thinking about retiring. Before making a decision, however, you should compare the features of a conventional IRA with those of a Roth IRA. The term "IRA" is an acronym for "individual retirement account". IRAs have been in existence for some time now, and they can help you to accumulate retirement savings.
by JonathanWeatherburg


A Roth IRA may be the retirement savings option for you if you are thinking about retiring. Before making a decision, however, you should compare the features of a conventional IRA with those of a Roth IRA. The term "IRA" is an acronym for "individual retirement account". IRAs have been in existence for some time now, and they can help you to accumulate retirement savings.

However, standard IRAs are very different from Roth IRAs in how they operate and what they do. You first need to know there are eligibility requirements that must be met in order to qualify. Anyone can contribute to a Roth IRA, regardless of their age as long as they have a taxable income. Generally speaking, a contributor is only eligible to contribute to an IRA if he or she makes less than a certain amount of money which are determined by tables provided by the IRS.

A Roth IRA also has advantages and disadvantages. One advantage that you might like is that your withdrawals from the Roth IRA are tax-free. One disadvantage, though, is that your contributions are not tax deductible.

Although your Social Security benefits die with you, your heirs can inherit your Roth IRA. You have an option with a Roth IRA that you don't have with a conventional IRA, that is, the penalty for early withdrawal is not as harsh. The other advantage that a Roth IRA offers is that it gives you the opportunity to accumulate additional funds for your retirement years. The conversion of conventional IRAs into contributions to a Roth IRA will be unrestricted beginning in the year 2010.

The flexibility you will get from a Roth IRA will be great. You must do some research before you decide whether you want to invest in a Roth IRA. But you do need to get ready for your retirement. If there is a remote possibility that you might need to get some money out before you retire, then you will be better off getting a Roth IRA than a regular IRA. To begin your Roth IRA, speak to an accountant near you.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.